Unilever to shift operations away from Ben & Jerry’s [Video]

Unilever, the company that makes Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Dove soaps and Vaseline, said Tuesday that it is cutting 7,500 jobs and spinning off its ice cream business to reduce costs and boost profits.London-based Unilever said its ice cream business, which also includes Magnum bars, has “distinct characteristics” from its other brands and would benefit from separate ownership to increase growth. The split is expected to be completed by the end of next year. The company said it is targeting underlying sales growth of mid-single digits after spinning off the ice cream business. Some analysts pointed out that splitting from Ben & Jerry’s, which is known for social activism that has put it at odds at times with its corporate owner, could have an added upside for Unilever.”A side benefit of the brand exiting Unilever’s portfolio is it might quieten the ‘go woke and go broke’ noise, but more …